Matildas fever is about to hit Australia again - it’s time for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup!
Australia is getting ready to host one of the world’s biggest tournaments in world football, and expectations are high for the Aussie national team. But what is the Asian Cup? Which players have made it into the Matildas squad? And most importantly, how can you watch all the games?
Here’s your ultimate guide to the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.
What is the Women’s Asian Cup?
The AFC Women's Asian Cup is the biggest women’s football competition in the Asia-Pacific region. Held every four years, it brings together the best national teams from across Asia to play for glory (and a spot at future global tournaments like the World Cup and the Olympics).
In 2026, Australia is hosting the tournament with matches held across Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast, giving fans around the country a chance to catch the games live and in person.
The tournament begins with a group stage, where teams are divided into pools and play each other team once. The top teams from each pool then advance to the knockout rounds (quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final), where every match is a must-win.
When does the tournament start and finish?
The AFC Women's Asian Cup kicks off on Sunday, 1st of March 2026, and runs for three weeks before wrapping up with the grand final on the 21st of March. The opening match between Australia and the Philippines will take place on the 1st of March at 8:00 pm AEDT.
Who are the favourite countries to win?
Australia (otherwise known as the Matildas) will enter the tournament as one of the hot favourites, especially with home-ground advantage, while rivals Japan will be keen for another shot to beat Australia in an Asian Cup final for the third time.
Defending champions China PR will be looking to go back-to-back with another win, bringing their total Asian Cup championships to ten. Don’t forget about three-time champs North Korea and Chinese Taipei!
Who is in the Australian team, the Matildas?
After an incredible run to the semi-finals at the 2023 World Cup and a disappointing Paris Olympics run in 2024, the Matildas will be looking to go all the way at the Asian Cup. The squad was recently announced, with some familiar names on the list.
Aussie superstar Sam Kerr (remember her incredible goal at the 2023 World Cup?) is back to captain the Matildas after returning from an ACL injury late last year. She’s joined by veterans and fan favourites Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Emily Van Egmond and Mackenzie Arnold.
An exciting addition to the team is Mary Fowler, who will be making a comeback after injuring her ACL in April last year. There are some brand new faces in the squad too - keep an eye out for Winonah Heatley, Charlie Rule and Clare Hunt in their first Asian Cup.
How to watch the Asian Cup 2026 in Australia
If you’re ready to soak up the atmosphere of live football, you’re in luck - there are still tickets available for many games across the country, including the Matildas games. Starting from $20, seeing a match in person doesn’t have to break the bank. You can buy your tickets on the official AFC Asian Cup website.
If you can’t get to a game, you can’t beat the atmosphere of watching a game of football in a packed pub. Get your friends together and head down to your local - check out Fanzo to find nearby venues that are showing the games.
Prefer to watch at home on TV? Channel 10 will be showing all Matildas games live, or you can sign up to Paramount+ to watch every single game of the entire tournament. That’s a lot of football!
